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Reading comprehension is an essential skill for students to develop when learning a new language. However, learners usually find reading activities boring, as they consist of long, dull texts. Find here a creative ESL reading comprehension activity that would give a twist to your lesson!
Reading Comprehension with Newspaper Headlines
Newspapers often use short, idiomatic and dramatic words. There may be abbreviations, omissions and puns, which can lead to ambiguity.
In this activity, newspaper headlines are used to familiarise children with reading comprehension and ambiguous meanings using primary resources. Students try to find the two possible meanings of these headlines and write a likely first sentence for the article following each headline.
For example:
POLICE HELP DOG BITE VICTIM
Meaning 1: The police have helped the victim of a dog-bite attack.
Meaning 2: The police helped a dog to bite someone.
Meaning 1 is the likely story.
HEADLINES:
1. MILK DRINKERS ARE TURNING TO POWDER
2. GRANDMOTHER OF EIGHT MAKES HOLE IN ONE
3. LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS CUT IN HALF
4. IRAQI HEAD SEEKS ARMS
5. MINERS REFUSE TO WORK AFTER DEATH
6. DRUNK GETS NINE YEARS IN VIOLIN CASE
7. POLICE FOUND SAFE UNDER BLANKET
8. TWO RUSSIAN SHIPS COLLIDE: ONE DIES
9. INCLUDE YOUR CHILDREN WHEN BAKING COOKIES
10. PASSENGERS HIT BY CANCELLED TRAINS
11. STOLEN PAINTING FOUND BY TREE
12. RED TAPE HOLDS UP NEW BRIDGE
13. GIRL HIT BY CAR IN HOSPITAL
By trying to infer and summarise the meaning of the content, students can better understand and retain the information they are learning.
Develop your students’ reading and writing skills with this resource book!
Trying to boost your students’ reading skills? Have a look at our Graded Readers!
